more "fishing" - the best catch

Yup, I was involved in the best catch of the day -- but it wasn't what you might think

Big Net -- interesting "fish"

Yup, it is my hat, which blew off --- and Jake, our guide, chased it down,
And is presenting it as if it was indeed the "catch of the day"
That is why I take 2-3 extra hats!

Don't Forget -- oh I Forgot

Kinda Right? one right, one wrong - no budget to get it fixed?

Some Fishing Part 4 --- Alicia Kills it

Every year we break the piggy bank and pay up for a guided drift boat trip looking to catch lots of big fish.  A trip lasts all day and tends to cover about 8-10 miles of a river - This one the Lower Madison or is it the Upper Madison -- I forget!

The drift boat.

Her rod is bent!

Yup FISH ON

Happy girl

Not again?

Yup Happy Girl

Guess what happened next?

When you are not fishing, you are looking at some beautiful scenery

After a full day of fishing, we close out with a view of the harvest moon over Montana fields.

some fishing Part 3

The bitterroot valley is south of Missoula and offers potentially great fishing on the Bitterroot River. I say potentially since I was pretty much unable to catch anything --- sheesh.

So we when into the backcountry to try our luck on Blodgett Creek to catch the little guys -- anywhere from 6-10"

The Canyon was beautiful with many world class climbing routes on stunning walls.

A few Buttresses in Blodgett -- 5-8 pitches with LOTS of lines

Some classic lines on these walls

Lunch

The fishing - I actually caught a few !

 A relaxing way to fish

Can't get enough pictures of these walls

Some fishing Part 2

This was a day of mostly standing in the water

Some fishing Part 1

We did fish, but the fishing this year was not so good. But we still tried. Not sure why the fishing was not great, but it could be a combination of the overall conditions, the hot weather, cold weather, low water in some places, our chosen time of day of fishing, piss poor experience of the angler, etc,

But the thing to know is that whenever we both went out together, Alicia always caught more than me, -- so that might be one reason why I wasn't posting... killed by a lady!

This day on the Madison was rainy and cold (mid 40's)
But Alicia was game and she still caught fish!

Happy to be out

 This pose, with the bent rod up, says "I just caught a fish.. in this case ANOTHER fish"

After a bit, the weather improved and Alicia could take her wool hat off. 

Out of hibernation

This blog has had a recent long period of no posts .  I guess I got a little lax as a combination of fires, weather, poor fishing, and ennui due to all that, put me in a slow mode.

The next few posts will hopefully bring you up to speed.

Hike up to Windy Ridge with Bev and Whitey.

"I'm here!"

A beautiful view -- since it includes TEBA

The ladies

Everyone but me

The bushwhack down --- most of the flowers have passed.